IMPORTS and Exports. Documentary Requirements for Imports:

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Nickolas Anderson
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1 IMPORTS and Exports A Customs Declaration is required for all goods imported into Saint Lucia. All investors are required to get an import number from the Customs Department when importing. Documentary Requirements for Imports: Invoices Documents of Title (Airway bill/ Bill of Lading) Certificate of Origin (for goods manufactured from another CARICOM country) Form 61 (For individual items exceeding a value of XCD$2, determined by the Custom s Department) Import Licenses/Import Permits (where applicable) Phytosanitary Certificate Bill of Sight (in the absence of proper invoices) Procedure persons importing goods by air are required to submit a Customs Entry within seven (7) days of importation of those goods; persons importing by sea, however must submit this document within fourteen (14) days of importation. Exempt from the above are fresh fish (including shell fish) caught by Saint Lucian fishermen and imported by them in their vessel and passenger s accompanied baggage. The Customs and Excise Department reserves the right to disallow the entry of any goods imported without the appropriate Customs Entry or the Entry not being filed within the stipulated timeframes. Where error is found on a submitted entry, an importer may be granted a period of ten (10) days to rectify it. If after final submission the Department is still dissatisfied with the entry, the person will become liable to penalties under the law. EXPORT Documents Invoices Shipping Bill 1

2 Procedure Any item being exported from the state of Saint Lucia should be accompanied by a signed shipping bill as proof of export. NB: Anyone submitting incorrect and false information on the submitted Customs Entries is liable to penalties and seizure of the imported or exported goods. 2

3 Cargo Control Unit The Entry Processing Unit is primarily responsible for validating import declarations. This involves checking of Customs Import Entries to compute the correct duties payable and ensure statistical correctness based on relevant and acceptable accompanying documentation. The documents required for this Process include: Import License or other licenses or certificates for Meats, Plant Products and Firearms Invoices (two or three copies when required) or other evidence of value, packing list, and when necessary, certified translations Evidence of freight charges (Freight account Bill of Lading, Airway bill) Certificate of Origin and evidence of consignment for CARICOM goods Work sheet when there are several invoices or tariff items Procedure Attesting Officer receives a Customs Declaration Form and checks to presented information for relevance and completeness. The Data Entry Officers enter the entry into ASYCUDA and get an assessment number, which is displayed on the physical entry. A Classification Officer then ensures that the tariff numbers are correct, the goods have been classified correctly and other aspects of authenticity including valuations. The Checking Officer then validates the Entry s declared Customs Value and checks for required documentation. If the entry has a concession or is a Bond Importation, it is then passed on to the Trade and Bond Seat Officers respectively for approval before the checking process is completed. The Trade Officer must review the concession details for the importer and ascertain that the declaration is consistent to the concession given. The Bond Officer verifies the particulars of the Bond. The Checking Officer prints an assessment notice. Each Customs Entry is processed with separate copies for the Central Statistics Office and the importer. The Importer s copy is returned to the Attesting Officer for onward transmission so that duties can be paid to the Cashier at the Accounts section. The Cashier would have received internal copies to check against the Entry provided for payment by the Importer. *If any discrepancy is found on the Declaration at any stage of the transaction, the applicant will be notified through a Query Form. All Customs forms can be obtained from 3

4 Passenger Declarations All persons entering Saint Lucia are required by law to declare to Customs Officials, anything contained in their baggage, or carried with them, which has been obtained outside of the country. Passengers are also required to answer all questions asked by the attending Customs Officer relating to their travels, baggage, its contents and other items being imported. Customs Declaration forms are distributed at ports of entry and exit, airline and ship's agent offices. It is advisable to fill out your Declaration Form prior to your arrival in order to expedite your Customs and Immigration clearance. Completion of the form requires a listing of items brought with you (whether purchased or not) and their prices. This includes gifts for other persons, articles carried for other persons, articles for sale, and commercial samples. This does not include your personal effects. The purchase price of articles may be declared in the currency of the country of purchase. For duty purposes, the value to be used will be the price paid or payable for the article. The Officer will convert the amount to XCD dollars and will give you an indication of the amount of duty payable. Misinformation can result in delays and penalties. Articles imported in excess of your exemption are subject to applicable duties. Passenger Information Personal Effects Clothing items, toiletries and other items for your personal use that are in your possession upon arrival into Saint Lucia are exempt from duty. Alcoholic Drinks Passengers 18 years and older are entitled to a duty free allowance of 40 fluid ounces of spirits however, any excess quantity up to 4 gallons, attracts a duty. There is no restriction on the size of the bottle. Tobacco Products Passengers 18 years and older can import free of duty 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2 kilograms of smoking tobacco. Household Effects Household effects are those items that are normally required in the home in 4

5 order to facilitate a comfortable living environment. Household effects imported by a passenger are exempted from the payment of Import Duty and Consumption Tax, provided that such items were in his/her possession and use for at least one year. NB: 5% service charge and 1.5% environmental levy are payable. In the case of the importation of personal and household effects as cargo in larger quantities, a different clearance procedure is to be followed. For more information please contact the Customs help desk at (758) Tools and Equipment A passenger can import free of Import Duty and Consumption Tax, tools of their trade, musical instruments and equipment normally used in the pursuit of the declared profession or trade provided that the passenger is a returning national. A returning national is a citizen of Saint Lucia by birth of eighteen years and above, returning to St. Lucia to settle after a minimum of ten years residence abroad. A passenger could also enjoy similar exemptions, provided that the tools and equipment are imported under the same conditions stated under Household Effects. Note: 5% Service Charge and 1.5% Environmental levy are payable in both cases. Gifts & Souvenirs Gifts and souvenirs imported by a passenger of a value not exceeding EC $ are exempted from any duty or other charges imposed by Customs. This allowance can only be claimed once a year and does not apply to alcoholic drinks, cigarettes or commercial goods. 5

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR IMPORTS

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR IMPORTS HOUSEHOLD GOODS REMOVAL Copy of airway bill / bill of lading / roadway bill Passport Visa (if required) Work permit (if appropriate) Packing list